A whole lotta you.

The only way I could title this blog was to title it with a song, which I will leave at the end.

This is because, there is a lot of love going on at the moment for me and John! I mean besides his love for schooling which I blogged about last week, we are really starting to come together.
John is one of those horses where I feel he takes a bit of warming up, he's a very sweet, loving horse but he was definitely not as loving as he is now, no way.
He is most definitely my horse. We clicked very early on in our partnership looking back, but it was nothing special. I've never really ridden a horse that tries as much as he does as stupid as it sounds, he puts his absolute heart into everything he does for me, a very classic gelding really.
I'm not saying he's perfect, because to me, he's perfectly imperfect and very much exactly what I wanted when I even thought about a new horse let alone actually considering to view and buy one.
I mean I could sit here and list everything I love about him but I shan't because there is too much to list really. I'm very excited to see what the future brings for him.

In other news, I have not really ridden my horse this week, massive oopsies! but I have lunged him twice and he is improving with it every session. He very much struggles when it comes to lunging so to see him stretching and really using himself in his trot and just trying his absolute heart out (as per usual as I stated earlier) which is wonderful to see!
But today riding did occur! Beff and Emma bought Sunny and Sparkie up to meet John and I was a bit nervous before getting on as I thought he might be a bit silly while in the stubble field with more than one other horse as I had never ridden him with more than one horse at all let alone in a stubble field. All I can say is I shouldn't have been nervous because he was amazing. I really don't know how he stays so cool and level headed because he's not a very experienced horse, he's in fact quite the opposite when he wants to be.
He went first into the field, showing everyone where to go like a star and then schooled in there beautifully, minus not knowing where his legs went in canter (which he is usually very good at, strange horse) and then had a good gallop with sparkie which we all thoroughly enjoyed! He then went into the school after and did a wonderful trot for me, stretching beautifully and just really trying for me. Beff then had a little ride and so did Emma and despite having a gallop not long before, he went into the school as if I'd only just got on, all I can say is what an amazing little horse; an absolute pleasure to own and ride.

Ponies meeting!

Sparkie and John having a well earned stand around!

Sunny and John meeting!

Emma having a play on John!

John having a very much unnecessary proud moment

And the link I promised you!
"All I need baby is a little time and a whole lotta you."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohN54aamu8U

There's no 'i' in team.

Two blogs in one day, wow, you guys are being spoilt today! I mean considering I never blog, I'm impressed with myself.

Howdy Hi!
I just realised I have never informed you on some of my best friends and their ponies (all of which are ginger and awesome).
I ride their ponies quite often and they just, arggghh they're awesome, all of them!
Really hoping their okay with this blog because it's happening (soz guys)

So meet Emma & Sunny.
Emma is pretty damn hilarious, if I had to sum her up in one word, I think it would be outgoing. That's it, that's all I need to say about her.
No I'm joking, but that does sum her up extremely well.
Emma has owned Sunny (a 6yo Welsh D X, I believe) for 4 years now and they really are so perfect, if you thought horses were your soul mates then by God these guys are a perfect example of that. I have ridden Sunny a couple times and I can honestly say he isn't easy, my word he's an awkward one but Emma makes him look so easy and watching them school is my absolute favourite because they just look so perfect, if my horse works like that one day, I will be so pleased. I just love watching them progress basically, there is nothing more fulfilling than seeing one of your best friends so happy. I mean the other day was a perfect example, we persuaded Em to jump Sunny and they were awesome. For the start Em honestly thought she was riding like rubbish and she wasn't, she never is, she puts herself down way too much, but that session was the best I've ever seen them both do when jumping and it was so nice to watch and see them both having a blast.
May I also add, Sunny is so freaking photogenic, what a gorgeous and adorable little fella he is! I shall include some photos below for you of them both!

And then there was three. Meet Beth, Sparkie & Jack.
Beth is an amazing rider. She is just awesome. If one day I am half as good as Beff, someone give me a pat on the back please.
One word for Beff? Sarcastic. Beff is the queen of sarcasm, pretty much.
Beff has had Sparkie 6 years and they are such a wonderful little pair. I mean literally little lol. Sparkie is 13.3/14hh I think, 10yo and a Welsh C and he is so awesome. We call him the princess because he really thinks that's what he is, a princess. I mean Beff and Sparkie are pretty known at local shows and Sparkie can go out and do a jump off course in around 30 seconds, which never ceases to amaze me, never. He thinks he's about 17hh and will go in against horses and still come out first like the trooper he is.
Jumping Sparkie is my favourite, he's just so awesome and you can definitely tell it's what he was born to do.
I don't really know what more to say about Sparkie, he's just pretty amazing. I mean so is Beff but.

Jack however is a 15.3hh ish, Welsh D x Thoroughbred I think? He's just turned 5 I believe.

Beff had had Jack since he was 2 so around 3 years I think, I may be wrong! She has does wonders with this little horse, breaking and producing a horse done right. All I can say about Jack is wow, he is so young and yet has so much potential, he has such a bright future that I can't wait to see develop because it'll be a good one, I'm sure of it. Just his schooling, jumping, everything is perfect and Beff rides him beautifully. Never have I felt a horse so eager to jump at such a young age, he gives you so much confidence and makes you feel so safe, and for his age I think that is absolutely wonderful. He is an absolute credit to Beff in every way, all the horses are a credit to these guys but just seen the first Jack cantered, that is not the same horse, no way, him and Sunny are just adorable and have blossomed into beautiful little horses.
Again I shall leave some photos here for you.

But wait, there's someone left?!
Little Ron. Ron is owned by both Emma and Beth and he is the cutest little guy ever. They adopted him from the RSPCA this year I believe and he has just recently worn a bridle and met a bit for the first time and I hear he was wonderful. He has changed so much just in a few months and I can't wait to see what he's like once broken, I'm super excited for the fun times ahead with this little kiddo. He's only about 2 and so you can imagine how adorable he is. His urm "surprise" nudges for attention amuse me highly, he just is so cute and laughs at everything, which is also pretty damn cute.
Again, some photos of his cool little face!

And there you go, meet the team!

A budding romance.

Misleading title. Not about me, just so we clear that one up.

John has found a new love, and he does not have my approval on this, not one bit.
John, loves, schooling.
Please someone send Jesus so he can take the wheel because I am a jumper, not a dressage rider or shower (show-er as in someone that does ridden showing, not a shower that you wash yourself in lol)

My key aim was to nail John's canter and by God are we nearly there. He is so much more balance and controlled and I am so pleased with it, but if John could learn to not enjoy working real hard riding in circles, I would enjoy that. I mean don't get me wrong, if I'm motivated and feel up for it, I'm all down for having a good session improving a certain area we need to work on but never did I think we would end up here.
I mean it's not how it sounds, I'm not having a breakdown and John is something I don't want lol. Just give me a jumping session any day, I love it!
However, I suppose I knew this day was coming sooner or later because my horse has ridden hunter potential and his showing debut will happen; but I am far from a show-er (nearly typed shower again and had to correct it, damn) and the whole concept annoys me but maybe, just maybe I could learn to love it, I mean if my horse is as good at it as I hope, maybe that might make me enjoy it? I hope so because that's what is needed in this situation.
Also, this new found love John has found, among things such as pears and his "neigh"bours, (haha see what I did there?! this is why I have no friends....) may lead us to other things, such as dressage, I mean again not my thing but I may come to enjoy it I suppose, and hope.

On the topic of John's schooling, he is going so well, I am incredibly happy with it, he is so much more relaxed and steadier and just listens to me a lot more. We're working well together I think, because I'm very much still trying to work his quirky ways out! However, John has this odd thing where he loves schooling once he's going but that's if you get him going lol. He doesn't listen to whips on the shoulder and hates them on his back end and so I think I am going to try roller ball or rubber spurs just to back up my leg and so I shall update you on how this goes.

Standard blog, not sorry, no pictures for today but John is still his normal ginger self and looks less fat than before,
Happy Sunday!

Summer is upon us!

Someone may as well hand me the award for 'The world's worst blogger' now. I mean, I'm pretty awful at it, but I have an excuse this time, I went away for a week to sunny Italy! So I mean that makes up for some of it I guess lol.
Anyway, onto blogging!

John wasn't ridden much throughout June, mainly because of how hot it was and because I did not have the motivation it required but despite that, he has come back better than ever. While I was away, Beff rode him and said he was pretty awesome which makes me very happy considering I wasn't around to supervise or anything and even had people on the yard comment on how well he looked while I wasn't there which made me even happier about it all.
Since having come back, I have ridden him a lot more. We have done a lot more schooling and safe to say I think we may have cracked his trot! After a no stirrups session the other day, he really just feels like he's coming along in leaps and bounds. As well as that, his canter is just becoming so, so good. I just really cannot get over how much he has improved since he first arrived and that was only 3 months ago and so I couldn't be happier with the little ginger best friend I now have in my life (besides Alf of course!) because he really just tries his absolute heart out to please.

We also went for a blast in the stubble field the other day which we both enjoyed thoroughly and John was perfect, did a little walk and trot before hand in there and he really showed how calm and sensible he can be which exceed all my expectations of how he was going to behave haha!

I also really do believe this progress he is making is down to us getting to know each other better a bit more and him learning to trust me which I'm so happy about because I mean for how old he is, he hasn't stayed in the same home for a very long time (not because of any fault of owner's just change in circumstances) which is sad but hopefully he will stay with me and he won't need to learn to trust and love someone new again which I think may be why sometimes he plays up, because of new people.

I shall leave some photos at the bottom for you and try and blog more in August, promise!

    John being awesome while I was away!

                     Love him tons 

  Beginning to learn how to trot nicely!

    Having a ride in the stubble field:)

        Apparently he loves thistles?

 Being good for my mum (and making her look tiny!)